If you’re a Rush fan or have read Daylight and have been anxiously waiting for book 2 in the No Death for the Wicked series, well… please bear with me.

As some might already know, I have recently lost my best friend, my husband. He passed away August 13th and I have been completely and utterly lost without him. I know some may say it’s too soon or take it slow, which I am. But, the one thing that has always kept me grounded is writing, my husband used to always say he loved it when I wrote simply, because it fueled me with life. Writing helps me on so many different levels and I know it’s the one thing he would want me to continue even with him gone.

With that being said, here’s the first chapter to Midnight. I’m working on it here and there, whenever I get the chance, mostly nights since sleep evades me. Also, I would like to mention before I cozy up to write, (book one) – Daylightshould be out in audio very soon. I will post links as soon as I can and I hope you enjoy the beginning taste of Mattie and Graham’s next story.

Chapter One

“A stake through the heart…” I flip another page and grumble, “Exposure to the sun.” Another page. “Decapitation.” And another. “Starvation.” I roam my eyes over to Graham, annoyed.

“Where’s the good stuff in this fossilized book?”

He directs a shimmer of a glance my way, but still keeps his blue eyes on the ill-lit road. The city of Solace is a distant memory, but one I will not soon forget. Graham found a set of wheels for us, more like a war machine. A Gothic black 1965 Buick Rivera, to travel the wastelands, the barren lifeless roads. Each mile means I’m that much farther away from the Elites. The elites are hunting us, and every pit stop we make, someone’s watching us. So, whether it’s a cashier at a gas station or a hitchhiker wandering the dusty roads, Graham makes sure they have no breath to reiterate what or who they just saw.

“There’s more in the book, Mattie,” Graham reveals, and magically flicks the pages backward with a simple gesture from his finger. His unworldly succulent eyes study me. “Bleed,” he says in a deep and throaty tone.

The only way I can read the book in my lap, the Voynich’s book, is for a drop of vampire blood to touch the page. I press my nail into my hand and squeeze the ruby-red blood from my palm. The crimson fluid turns into ink and the encrypted symbols begin to form into words. Readable, fluent sentences appear, and I start to decipher what I’m seeing.

“Vampires have existed since the dawn of man, and since that time, the two races have been at war. Both fighting for their own instinctual survival. Mankind had daylight on their side, to them vampires were nothing more than a menace.

The vampires ruled the night, but were also reliant on the humans… for their blood. After centuries of bloody war the humans believed they had finally won, and fell into a state of complacency, but the vampires, concealed by shadows of night, discovered another race being hunted and persecuted by the humans… witches.

These two formed an alliance and began slowly developing a strategy to infiltrate and take over humanity, without mankind ever knowing. First, a serum was created, giving them the one thing the humans had advantage of, the sun. Now the nightwalkers walk the day, and soon all aspects of society will be within our grasp. In five hundred years, we shall rule the world.”

As soon as my last word expels from my lips the sentences fade, no words, no ancient scribbly handwriting, not even a hint that my blood had even spilt there.

“So all this time humans think that vampires are mere stories of myth and forgotten legends, but in fact they’re the ruling class of humanity. How ironic— wait a minute… how many cities are there like Solace?”

Graham hits the lights, deadening the path in front of us even more, and steers the car off the road. The town, Shadow Hills, caps the dry scenery in the distance. Graham slips out and scouts the area. He walks, no that’s not accurate, he glides toward the front of the car. His long trench coat whispers along the ground as he waits a breath before he answers me.

“There are more cities like Solace than you would like to know about, Mattie.”

“So, we’re fucked?” I quip getting out, my eyes roam around the dreary landscape. I set my hope for blood on a metaphorical shelf for now and stride toward the back of the car. I slam my fist hard against the dusty metal and watch as vials of daylight shine like the Holy Grail from the trunk. I slide one translucent bottle from its precious cushioned protection and inspect it. The entire trunk is filled with cases of daylight, and if I’m careful, it will last me a couple of years. But, if I am not, I may just end up being a flesh-skinning nightwalker and that’s not a go-to option for me.

Graham motions over at the horizon just as the sun breaks through the early morning light. I quickly slip the vial back in its snug, tight concealment and make sure the cases are securely closed before I slam the trunk shut. I might be able to go a few days without needing another dose, but a thousand or so vials of daylight won’t last me forever. In the book it mentions witches, an alliance between us and them. And how they conjured the serum, now, all I need is a witch.

“How do you know? You have a thing for witches too?” I sass meeting his pace, his body meets mine. We’re close to touching but not. I swallow hard watching as he licks his full sinful lips. He’s been careful not to touch me since we hightailed it out of Solace, all of his energy and concentration has solely been on keeping us safe. But now, I can see his sexual frustration building, he wants to touch me, he needs to touch me.

Finally, his right hand ensnares around my waist, pressing our hips closer. His blue eyes scour over my face as if he’s deciding on how he wants to take me. “Witches? No… They couldn’t survive my ways, they’re not nearly wicked enough.”

Midnight book 2

Synopsis

I have what I came for, the serum they call Daylight, and him. Graham is a dangerously seductive Grim Reaper who shadows my every move. I wouldn’t say that’s a bad thing, necessarily. Now, a clan of unforgiving elite vampires hunting me down by night, that’s a downer.

Why? Why would another vampire, especially the ‘Elites’, care if I walk the streets by day? It’s because I have something they want.

The Voynich manuscript, a book you wouldn’t believe is real unless you’ve seen it with your own eyes. Bound in the skin of an unnamed animal, this legendary book contains the history and knowledge of all vampires that walk this earth, and I have it.

They hunt the nights searching for me. I walk in the light of day trying to keep one step ahead of them, but what happens when my Reaper’s last grains of sand run out, forcing him to return to the underworld?

What will win? Love or revenge?

Join Mattie in this unique vampire love story with a gritty Gothic twist as we find out how far she will go to keep what she has.

I am amped to be back in the interview seat at Rush Bound Blog. It has been a while and I’ve missed it. I’ll tell you this, I was boarding a plane for China, the surfing off of Hainan Island right now is too radical to miss. But alas, I will always come to the call of the Rush. So here I am. A lot has been happening around here since I went on my surfing hiatus. I see the coffee here is much improved, that is always a good sign. (Hitting the button on the Keurig coffee machine)

Let me get everyone up to speed. My name is Lucky and I run the interview department here at Rush Bound. I specialize in Character Interviews, mainly from Karli Rush’s Novels. It is rare that I get to sit down with the Lady herself, but today is a Great Day!

Please give it up for Paranormal Romance Indie Author and my boss, Karli Rush! (Hitting the button on the applause machine)

Karli – Thank you Lucky, you’re looking quite tan, seems the time off was good for you. Thanks for showing up so quickly.

Lucky – Anything for you, Karli. What I want to do in this interview is to dig into the psyche of an Indie Author and find out some details behind the books that your readers would love to know. I’m gonna start at the beginning. Crescent Bound – Tell me something about Alyssa that is not in print.

Karli – Alyssa is an amazing witch, friend, healer, lover, and lifemate. One thing not in print? Hmm, let me see. Okay, you know how Megan is always messing with Alyssa’a wardrobe. Well Lisa and Alyssa put together this spell that every time Megan would make a reference to anything sexual, a piece of her clothing would convert into a part of a Nuns outfit, called a Habit. Megan has vowed revenge.

Lucky – That is too funny. I can picture her face, red as fire. On to the next as they say. The next in this case is book two, Raven Bound. One character that stands out in this book is Evan. Tell us something about him.

Karli – Evan is still single ladies. Maybe Alyssa will see something about his future soon. When and if she does, I will let you know. Right now he is dedicated as Alyssa’s bodyguard. That girl sure needs one too.

Lucky – Now on to Demon Bound, a dark and dangerous world, and in the middle of all that, my favorite weekend distraction, Megan, has some interesting things going on too. I won’t put out a spoiler, but tell us something about Megan, and David also.

Karli – Megan, oh mischievous Megan! Then there is David. Oh let me see. David has sworn off red-headed fire elementals for life. He currently is trying to invent a spell to make pizza taste like the one he found down in Miami. He has too much time on his hands.

Lucky – Shadow Bound is the beginning of Alyssa and Marc, it is far in the past, can you share anything about this Novel, due out this spring?

Karli – Every story has a beginning. Alyssa and Marc are in an ancient time, a time when they are living their full magickal potential. A time when the world still held a rawness and love was impassioned with a wildness not seen in our modern world. Magick was part of the time and a seer was invaluable. The prosperity or poverty of many rested in the hands of so few.

(Coming Spring 2013)

Lucky – Ice Bound baby, this is Marc’s point of view as we ride the wave with him and he gives us his experiences of Crescent Bound. I hear there is a bunch of new stuff in this that gives the first Novel greater depth and appeal. More about the leading man, if you please.

Karli – Marc is such an outstanding guy, it is so important for the readers to know him just before he meets Alyssa and that is where his story begins, the fall before his senior year of school and up through Crescent Bound. You are right, Lucky, there are many parts in this that fill in gaps about where Marc was during certain parts, and what he was doing. Some good stuff coming with that book.

(Coming Fall 2013)

Lucky – Okay now, out of the blue you wrote a Novelette about Seducing a Mermaid. I have a story to tell you about surfing off the coast of Morocco, but that will be another time. Can you tell us something about Sam or Jewels?

Karli – I said once that I would never write a story about a Mermaid, but Jewels snuck up on me, and Sam was so deserving. He had been through the ringer with a long time ex-girlfriend. I also wanted to show a side of men that is not all macho and dominating. Sam is my artist, the one who has no tendencies towards violence. He is the lover not the fighter. I have been asked about writing more on this one. I will never say never, but Sam and Jewels are content at the moment, so I don’t have any current plans to do another story or expand the current one, yet.

Lucky – Now we switch gears again and delve into the future and science fiction side of your Romance writing. You have a book coming out this year called Pine Needles. Care to give us a taste of this delicacy?

Karli – Selene is an independent and successful small business woman, engaged to a great guy. Her future looks bright with no surprises on the horizon. And here comes the but. But an earthquake hits the city and a strange energy veil splits it in two. One side of the veil must deal with the after effects of the devastating earthquake. On the other side of the veil is a whole new and dangerous world. Selene is behind the veil and Rayden is on the outside. Selene must become more than she could ever imagine just to survive.

(Coming – Summer 2013)

Lucky – See all the activity going on around here while I was gone. Things are popping, books are growing out of thin air and I can’t wait to get my (interview) hands on some of these characters. Even though I’ve been surfing my ass off, I haven’t been completely out of touch, I keep up with The Zon and scope out GR, FB, and the Twit.

I’ve caught wind of a project you’re forging as we speak. The world of Vampires, the Romance of a young woman, and an Obsession from the Underworld. Tell me, tell me, something about Daylight!

Karli – Oh, this story is eating me up with excitement. Mattie, a young Vampire is being stalked by Death, literally. Mattie enters this city called Solace and it’s ruled by ruthless vampires, so it is a good thing to have Death on your side. Mattie’s obsessions involve two things, a serum called Daylight and Him! Both are so close to her, yet somehow just out of reach. Her intention is to get both, all she has to do is survive HELL in Paradise.

(Coming February 2013)

Karli, you continue to bring us Excitement, Adventure, Romance, which is all a true reader craves.

I am giving the fans a link to the prelude to Daylight, better known as Prelude to Death. Click the link and for free you can meet Mattie and Graham.

Hello everyone! Today, we have another amazing author, Tessa Stokes with us. Tessa has several novels under her belt covering Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy as well as Young Adult genres. Book one of “The Ruthin Trilogy” is “Devon Ruthin and A Vampire in Love” which is an Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance combination.

Tessa, thank you for taking your time to share with everyone a little about yourself and your work.

To get things started, Tessa, writing under the genres of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, which require building an entire world around your characters. Can you tell us what it took to create the world of Devon Ruthin?

That’s a really good question and has made me think about what I did do. I remember getting the idea for the book after visiting a medieval market town in the south west of England. It has a Norman abbey with some extraordinarily old tombs and effigies in there and I just started thinking about this character who could live in a town like that hidden amongst everyone else. Suddenly I had a whole crowd of characters in my head. They are the ancient beings in the story and then along comes Bliss and who does she meet? Well my gorgeous character Devon and then the story just went wild. I don’t know how I built the world it just came out of my head onto the computer. That’s how I write most times. A character suddenly speaks to me and we’re off and writing madly.

I am sure when Devon spoke to you that you realized “vampires” are a very hot commodity today, there are many books out there to choose from. What is it about your vampires that you want everyone to know which may set them apart from other authors?

I wish I could say something more convincing but I think my vampires are such characters they are identifiable. You know them. There’s Greta hiding her lust for Drew and yet being in love with Pearl. Pearl that cool as an iced coffee, sharp as a knife vampire who is the epitome of a powerful person gone wrong. As she says herself, ‘she’s the least trustworthy person she knows’. The young vampire woman who loves Drew and searches his pockets for signs he has another lover. The vampire community live with what they are in various ways. Drew uses it to his full advantage and he’s a bad boy vampire with a weird past and a weirder future, if you continue to read the Trilogy. His companions are supposed to be funny sometimes. They do Drew’s bidding out of some misplaced loyalty in volume one but they start to question that in volume two and in their sudden realization that Drew is no longer as dangerous as he was they become more confident and have opinions. Jake who suddenly wants a window painted with seaweed patterns. The fun elements are to offset the darkness of Drew who in volume one is a consummate killer and the strange echo of darkness surrounding the ancient magical beings.

I agree that character personalities is core to a successful book, and speaking of success, ever since the Beatles, Americans have been crazy for anything British. How do you think being from the UK may give you an advantage over other authors?

I don’t actually think that. It never entered my head and now you’ve asked I can’t see it being an advantage. The scenes I paint in my books are of English places and the voices are quite English, but I hope that the emotional content is universal, and that’s what is important to me that everyone actually gets the characters, engages with them and the story.

I agree, emotional content is definitely universal, take Devon for example, he is a true romantic at heart, no matter his background. When you were creating him, how hard was it to bring a Vampire over to the side of love and still not lose the Vampire in him?

Interesting question. Not hard at all. I think he moved towards love when he saw his own kind (vampires) turning against each other. It primed him to question them and their way of life, including his own. Of course that element of his move to love was facilitated by my creation of the community of ancient magical beings. They incidentally are loosely based on people in the ancient world.

How wonderfully creative. Now Devon’s love interest is Bliss and she is a doll, her sweetness and vulnerability resonates from the pages. Was it hard to bring her out of her comfort zone when writing the book?

Bliss was sick to death of her life when she drove off on holiday and I have met one or two real people who like her take that leap of faith into change. I’ve met an awful lot of single women who live their life alone because somehow they never meet anyone. There’s no reason for them not to be loved and yet they are not.

There is no Devon for them and they might change their job and location but still life does not give them love. Bliss is a character in a story and so she gets it.

Bliss however is not quite finished. In volume three which I am currently writing we discover the real reason she was called Bliss, and what really happened when her mother died in that car crash. Bliss is what you say, but she has some deeper aspects not yet revealed. She’s devoted to Devon and he to her, and that will never change. When she goes after Devon in volume one it’s supposed to give you a clue that she has some deeper things going on. She was vulnerable but now Devon loves her and she will fight for him, for his survival, to protect him.

I am impressed that you delve into the world of the lonely romantic when writing your book. I am sure it captures those hearts out there that are searching for love, giving them hope to not stop in their quest.

Now to go into the dark side of the paranormal. Would you like to comment on the bad guys in the book? I see a raw and untamed side and want to know more about it, please share with us your dark side.

My own dark side? I just see the world from the angle of someone who has traveled and lived in many different places and situations. I’ve worked in some eye-opening jobs in that I have seen and dealt with all segments of society, and as Greta said, “seen some things and done more”. LOL

I like to make my ‘bad guys’ not completely overtly bad. As myself, I despise violence and yet the vampire bad guys can’t help what they do. It’s in their nature. I wanted to give clues to some of them being inherently more prone to unpleasant behavior. They use each other, they lie and cheat, they have a core of cruelty that they are just born with. Then there are the bad guys who just end up that way because life just never gives them one break and so stealing, cheating, being outside of society is just their way of life. Their spirit gets broken and they think ‘what the Hell’.

Again, you have built layers to these characters that will cause a reader to absorb them fully and then, the reader will have a new found appreciation for each one. Depth in writing is so important in romance for me anyway.

Tessa, I love your passion for writing and would you please take a moment and let everyone know what other wonderful novels you have available, also what is the next big thing?

I have the second volume of The Ruthin trilogy available, Drew Ruthin and the Blood of changes. That book is my favorite out of the two right now because Drew just took over there and went on a journey that I never expected to be able to ‘see’ as an author. He was helped out by the emergence of Balthazar Crane. Now he is an interesting character because he enabled me to make inroads into the psyche of the ancient magical beings with ease. The second volume is also more erotic than the first volume because the love stories are more intense.

I have a standalone novel ‘Stone Kisses’ available on kindle.

It’s modern urban fantasy, a true romance, a little erotic and very endearing. I re-read it recently when I was preparing the second edition and actually fell back in love with the story. (smiles)

Stella is a young woman living alone, working at her graphic design business, and has not had a man in her life for a long time and feels very lonely.

It’s summer and she looks around her, sees only couples, and she ends up longing for love or at least kisses.

Some distance away, Apollo and Mercury live reasonably peacefully on the outskirts of town. These two gods are left over from ancient times. They have a game they play and Stella our heroine gets caught up in it.

Stella is working hard to pay her mortgage when she becomes entangled in the game.

She is in her garden and looks back at her house, she sees it needs painting but unable to afford this she decides to buy flowers for her garden to brighten it up.

In a garden center buying flowers, Stella meets Justin. He is beautiful, strong, and attracted to her. He decides to pursue her.

She also finds a garden statue she would like, a statue of Mercury the winged messenger.

Justin knows she wants the statue and he gifts it to her.

Let the game begin.

***

I’m working on the third volume in The Ruthin Trilogy right now. The Ruthin Pact: Volume three in The Ruthin Trilogy.

I also write a YA urban fantasy The Seven Spell Saga, and I am working on the seventh and therefor last book in that series too.

I have another standalone that is a couple of chapters in but on hold for the time being as I really do want to finish the Ruthin’s story.

Awesome, and thank you so much for being here today!

Tessa has lived in many places in the world because of her work, but currently resides in the United Kingdom where she was born.

She writes character driven stories, which are a genre blend of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and real life. Her books are heavily romantic. Tessa likes to write erotic and paranormal romance as well as contemporary fantasy as she says this gives her more scope for happy endings, which she thinks we all crave. Tessa has always been writing something, academic curriculum, advertising copy, fiction, presently she writes paranormal romance/urban fantasy romance, and blogs. Tessa loves to wander around the ancient places, historical sites, and ruined castles of the UK where she often finds inspiration.